Frank Sanders (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Franklyn Bonn Sanders (born March 8, 1949 in Oakdale, Minnesota
) is a former professional ice hockey
player who made 76 regular season game appearances for the WHA
Minnesota Fighting Saints
in 1972-73. He is perhaps best known for being a member of the United States hockey team that won a silver medal in the 1972 Olympic Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan. Sanders also played on the 1969 WCHA
champion Minnesota Gophers hockey team and was captain of the 1970-71 team. He was awarded the John Mariucci
Most Valuable Player Award that year.
After turning down an offer by the Boston Bruins
in order to play for the Olympics, Sanders was later signed by his hometown team, the Minnesota Fighting Saints. The Saints were a charter member of the upstart World Hockey Association
, a professional league that was challenging the NHL
hockey empire.
Sanders was a big (6'3 230 lbs), intimidating defenseman and was known for his tough play and fighting ability. At the end of his first season he unexpectedly quit playing hockey to pursue life in the ministry. He currently pastors Spirit of Life Bible Church in Woodbury, Minnesota
.
Oakdale, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,653 people, 10,243 households, and 7,129 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,408.4 people per square mile . There were 10,394 housing units at an average density of 939.2 per square mile...
) is a former professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who made 76 regular season game appearances for the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
Minnesota Fighting Saints
Minnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
in 1972-73. He is perhaps best known for being a member of the United States hockey team that won a silver medal in the 1972 Olympic Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan. Sanders also played on the 1969 WCHA
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
champion Minnesota Gophers hockey team and was captain of the 1970-71 team. He was awarded the John Mariucci
John Mariucci
John Mariucci was an American ice hockey player, administrator and coach. Mariucci was born in Eveleth, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota where he played for both the hockey and football teams. He was named an All-American in hockey in 1940...
Most Valuable Player Award that year.
After turning down an offer by the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
in order to play for the Olympics, Sanders was later signed by his hometown team, the Minnesota Fighting Saints. The Saints were a charter member of the upstart World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
, a professional league that was challenging the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
hockey empire.
Sanders was a big (6'3 230 lbs), intimidating defenseman and was known for his tough play and fighting ability. At the end of his first season he unexpectedly quit playing hockey to pursue life in the ministry. He currently pastors Spirit of Life Bible Church in Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury, Minnesota
Woodbury is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, and is a suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is situated east of Saint Paul along Interstate 94...
.